Automatic water sprinkler control valve



9, 1956 C. PARK 2,766,070 AUTOMATIC WATER SPRTNKLER CONTROL VALVE Filed March 15, 1'956 d. CPQP l INVENTOR BY j' ATTORNEYS.

AUTOMATIC WATER SPRINKLER CNTROL VALVE Alexander C. Park, Sacramento, Calif. Application March 15., 1956, Serial No. 571,756` 4 Claims. (Cl. 299-25) This invention relates to control valve.-

An object of this invention is to provide a valve structure for interposing in a sprinkler supply line which includes means whereby the water will be automatically cut off when a predetermined amount of water has been discharged from the sprinkler or sprinkler system.

Another object of this -invention is to provide an automatically operable valve for a water sprinkling system which can :be mounted in a position to receive a quantity of the water which is sprayed or sprinkled so that when a predetermined quantity of water has been sprayed and collected lby the collecting pan forming part of the control device, the water is automatically cut off.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatically operable sprinkler control valve which can be adjusted 4to provide an automatic turning on and turning oi of the valve which is interposed in a sprinkler in a sprinkler supply line.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details lof construction and .combination of parts, hereinafter more Lfully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

lFigure 1 is a vertical section partly in detail of a water control valve structure :constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.`

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 Referring to the drawing, the numeral designates generally a valve housing which includes a cylindrical valve 11 having a bottom wall 12. T he body 11 is closed at the upper end thereof by a cap 13 having a threaded flange 714 which threadedly engages the outer end of the body 1.1. The body 111 is provided with outwardly projecting ears 15 through which valve supporting rods or stakes 16 are threaded so that the valve body 1'1 may be disposed in a vertical position with the rods or stakes 16 projected into the ground regardless of the contour or level or even condition of the ground.

The Ibody 11 is provided at a point between the upper and lower ends thereof `with an intake yboss -17 and is also provided with an outlet vboss 18 opposite the intake boss `17. A short length of pipe or nipple 19 has threaded on the outer end thereof yone portion 20 lof a union. The second portion `21 of the union is swivelly carried by the adjacent end of a iiexible boss '22 which has .connected at the opposite end thereof to a source of water supply. The outlet boss 18 has threaded therein-to a short length of pipe or nipple 23 having one part 24 of a second union threaded thereon. The ycomplementary part `2'5 of the union is threaded onto the union part 24 land is swivelly carried by a discharge hose line 26. The hose line 26 is adapted to 4be connected to a sprinkler system for sprinkling the surface of the ground.

In order to provide a hose whereby the water may be an automatic water sprinkler of Fig. 1.

2,766,070 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 automatically cut cfr when a predetermined quant-ity of water has been discharged vby the sprinkler system, II have provided the .combined piston and valve plug 27. The valve plug 27 is slidable in the cylindrical body 111 and is constantly urged upward-ly to an open position by means of a spring 28 which engages Ithe bottom of the plug 27. The lower end of the spring 218 is seated in a cup 129 which is .swivelly carried by the upper or inner end of a yspring tensioning screw 30. Screw 30 is threaded through the bottom 'wall |12 and the adjustment of the screw is such that the proper tension may be applied to spring 27 in order to normally hold the valve plug or piston l27 in an upper open position. A piston rod or stake y31 is secured to the upper end oi the piston or plug 27 and slidably engages through the cap 13. A pan or water collector `32 is threadedly mounted on the upper end of the stern 13.1 and a petcock or drain valve B3 is mounted in the lower portion of the pan `or collector B2.

In yorder to provi-de means whereby the valve plug 27 may `be held in ian upper and open position until a predetermined quantity of water has been collected in the pan or Icollector 32, I have provided a spring-pressed ball |34 which is carried by a tubular housing 35. The housing 35 is threaded through the :upper portion of the body 11 and is lformed with an outer head 36 through which a spring adjusting screw =37 engages. A plunger 38 is slidable in the tube 35 Iand :bears against the outer end of a ball tensioning spring S9. The opposite or inner end of the spring `39 `bears against the ball 34 so as to yieldably hold the `ball 64 .in an annular groove et) which is formed in the stem 31. The tension of the spring 39 is so adjusted as to cooperate `with -the spring 28 in yield-ably holding and locking the stem 31 against downward movement until a predetermined quantity of water has `been collected in the pan 32.

'1n the use and operation of this device the housing 1.1 is interposed in the water supply line `by connecting the nipples 19 'and 2-3 to the couplings 21 and 25. 'In the normal sprinkling position of the valve plug 27 this plug is in an open position Aand is held in this position by means of the ball L3'4 and the spring 28. If it is desired to ydischarge a quantity of water from the sprinkler head or sprinkler system the petcock 33 is closed so that no water will be drained from the collector or pan 32. Spring 39 is adjusted as to the tension thereof `so that this spring will release ball 34 from groove 40 when pan or collector I32 is substantially illed. At this time the weight 4ot the water in pan 32 will move valve plug 27 downwardly -to a position intersecting Iand `closing ports formed by the bushings or bosses 17 and 1'3.

The `system will be automatically turned on again when the water in pan 32 has evaporated or has been drained therefrom. Under certain conditions the petcock 32 may be partially opened so as to drain out the water irom the pan or collector 32 at a speed slightly less than the speed at which the water accumulates or is formed in pan 32. If it is desired to run the sprinkler system continuously for a predetermined length of time petcock 33 may be completely opened so that any water collected in pan 32 will immediately drain out therefrom. Under this condition valve plug V27 will be yieldably held :in its open position as shown in Lfull lines in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

l. A sprinkler control means comprising a valve housing, means interposing said housing in a water supply line, a valve plug slidable in said housing, said housing having opposed inlet and outlet ports, means supporting said housing with the longitudinal axis thereof in a vertical position, a Spring in said housing constantly urging said plug upwardly to open position, a stem fixed to said plug extending upwardly of said housing, said stem having an annular keeper groove within said housing, a

spring-pressed locking ball carried by said housing engageable in said groove when said plug is in an upper open position, and a collector secured to the upper end of said stern adapted to collect water discharged from the sprinkler, the weight of the water in said collector eecting downward movement of said plug to closed position.

2. A sprinkler control means comprising a valve housing, means interposing said housing in a water supply line, a valve plug slidable in said housing, said housing having opposed inlet and outlet ports, means supporting said housing with the longitudinal axis thereof in a vertical position, a spring in said housing constantly urging said plug upwardly to open position, a stem Xed to said plug extending upwardly of said housing, said stem having an annular keeper groove within said housing, a springpressed locking ball carried by said housing engageable in said groove when said plug is in an upper open position, a collector secured to the upper end of said stem adapted to collect water discharged from the sprinkler, the weight of the water in said collector effecting downward movement of said plug to closed position, and means tensioning said locking ball whereby said plug will be released when a predetermined quantity of water has been collected in said collector.

3. A sprinkler control means comprising a valve housing, means interposing said housing in a water supply line, a valve plug slidable in said housing, said housing having opposed inlet and outlet ports, means supporting said housing with the longitudinal axis thereof in a vertical position, a spring in said housing constantly urging said plug upwardly to open position, a stem fixed to said plug extending upwardly of said housing, said stern having an '4 annular keeper groove Within said housing, a springpressed locking ball carried by said housing engageable in said groove when said plug is in an upper open position, a collector secured to the upper end of said stem adapted to collect water discharged from the sprinkler, the weight of the water in said collector effecting downward movement of said plug to closed position, means tensioning said locking ball whereby said plug will be released when a predetermined quantity of water has been collected in said collector, and means for selectively draining water from said collector.

4. A sprinkler control means comprising a valve housing having opposed inlet and outlet ports, means interposing said housing in a sprinkler supply line, a spring pressed valve plug slidable in said housing and normally urged to open position, a stem fixed to said plug and projecting above said housing, a collector carried by the upper end of said stern and adapted to collect water Vfrom the sprinkler, the weight of water in said collector moving said plug downwardly to open position, and spring-pressed holding means engageable with said stem for holding said plug against movement until a predetermined quantity of water has been collected in said collector.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

